Mayo ladies rocked by ten-player walkout

Mayo's Cora Staunton before the Connacht SFC final clash against Galway at MacHale Park, Castlebar.

Ten players, including Cora Staunton, have departed the Mayo ladies squad ahead of their qualifier opener.

The westerners are due to face Cavan in Clones in their first group outing on Saturday but will be without their record scorer - who only returned last month after a season Down Under with Great Western Sydney Giants - as well as captain Sarah Tierney, vice-captain Fiona McHale and seven others.

The ten players as well as selector Michael McHale have all left the squad in the last week, citing player welfare issues, according to The Mayo News.

The ten informed manager Peter Leahy of their decision to depart last Tuesday and have not been involved since.